In reading reviews of the CBS coverage, most focus seems to be on the announcing and how they followed the Tiger-Phil drama. Bradley Kleincharted these numbers:

The first commercial break didn’t come until 66 minutes into the telecast, and all told, by my count, we saw only 20 minutes of ads. That left time for golf, 378 shots in all shown live or “a moment ago.” Those shots comprised 57 drives; 96 full approaches into greens; six pitch-outs; 35 chips, recoveries or sand shots; 52 long putts, 83 short putts and 49 tap-ins. As for the common argument that we see too much putting, the evidence shows that 49 percent of all shots shown took place on the green.

Chris Zelkovich picks on some of the sappier CBS comments in entertaining fashion. Don't worry, PK, he doesn't mention you!

Unmentioned in these reviews is the impact of Augusta Live, the amazing online bonus coverage that DirectTV subscribers also had access too.

On the live blogs here, we were consistently astonished just how few live shots CBS shows in comparison to what we were seeing in the online coverage of Amen Corner and the 15th/16h holes. Our friends watching BBC reported comments from post round interviews we never would have gotten and several other observations based on seeing actual golf shots instead of pre-packaged material.

For instance, we live blog participants knew all about Anthony Kim's historic round Friday as well as Rory McIlroy's disastrous finish and his ruling controversy, all thanks to Augusta Live or tips from viewers overseas. Yet for CBS, it was if they had a set script and no golf was going to get in the way.

Also disastrous was the 12th hole sequence Sunday. Every year the 12th tee caddy-player discussions provide us with the ultimate pressure moment. When Phil and Tiger arrived there, Ian Baker Finch and Nick Faldo talked over way too much of the club selection discussions. Now, I admire both as announcers and Faldo was particularly strong last week. So part of me wonders if they are told to talk viewers through things because there are so many non-golfers watching.

But I couldn't help noticing that Ian Eagle and Matt Gogel, announcing on Amen Corner Live coverage, went silent as Tiger-Stevie/Phil-Bones made the all-important 12th tee decision. (In hindsight, I should have muted my CBS feed.)

So my question: Is Augusta Live undermining CBS's credibility by exposing just how few live shots we see and golf shots period? Or is this merely the future of the broadcasting the Masters, where a network feed is an excessively-produced, almost documentary-style telecast for the masses while we viewers at home select feeds we want to watch, ala Augusta Live?

Lawrence Donegan raises several interesting points aboutTiger and Phil's post-round behavior Sunday, noting Phil's amazing (borderline shocking) disposition after having such a great chance of winning. But he mostly focuses on Tiger's crankiness. The entire piece is worth your time, it just so happens this caught my eye:

The contrast between Mickelson's ­apparent insouciance and Woods' evident anger was open to multiple interpretations. It was ever thus and this latest episode left those who believe the world No 1 is infallible to argue that he was angry only because he cares so much.

By extension all conduct is seemingly acceptable, be it the constant cursing and club throwing – in which Woods has become the world-leader since his return from injury – or the childish behaviour he adopted before Sunday's final round, cold-shouldering Mickelson in an apparent ­attempt to make him feel uncomfortable.

I'm not sure if I can fully vindicate the Official World Golf Ranking the way Gary Van Sickleis prepared to, but he does have a point here...

I will no longer criticize the World Golf Rankings because Japan's Shingo Katayama mysteriously stays in the top 50 while seeming to do very little. At the Masters, he finished ahead of Tiger, Phil and Padraig. He finished in front of everyone, in fact, except the Titanic Three. I was impressed with his gutty back nine, and I liked his theatrics. Just one thing — the Village People called, and they want their hat back.

Oliver Brownreports onSergio's heartfelt apology for saying not-so-nice-things about Augusta National. I'm thinking it's so much from the heart that his agent may have even read this to him over the phone before sending it out!

"Following my final round at the Masters, I made comments in an interview that I regret and want to apologise for," he said.

"Out of frustration, I blamed the golf course instead of putting the blame where it belongs, on myself.

“I didn’t get it done this week. Augusta National is one of the most iconic golf courses in the game and playing in the Masters each year is an honour. I apologise to the members of Augusta National and the fans who rightfully treasure this golf course.”

The Golf Channel producer trying to flag down Paddy for an interview as he's heading to the locker room and Paddy waving it off until the person says, "but we have Sergio on tape ripping Augusta National and in general acting like his wonderful self."

Paddy: "Oh, where would you like me? Is this a good backdrop for you? I'll wait while you do the white balance. What? You don't have to do that anymore? Well I'll wait anyway. Take as long as you want."

I just got around to reading Jon Show'sSBJ story revealing that the LPGA Tour and Commish Bivens have given up on trying to secure network coverage for next year, which would also mean that the break up decision with ADT to usher in a 2010 season opening swingis looking more disastrous by the day, even without mentioning Stanford Financial.

Check out what Randell Mellwrote back when the ADT news broke and the future grand plan was leaked:

Really, the break with ADT offers a telling microcosm for us to judge Bivens' larger approach.

Tour pros ought to scrutinize what's happening to this event very closely to see if the changes are really for the better or if something special's being damaged.

Bivens' remaking of this season-ending event and the break with ADT will tell us so much about the wisdom of her overall plan.

If she unveils a future to this championship that sounds convincingly better than the eight-year run ADT gave us, players should be encouraged. If she doesn't, they ought to be worried, and they ought to be asking hard questions of their commissioner. This has been a terrific event with a wonderful run. Players are sure to measure future events against it.

According to The Augusta Chronicle, Masters security sought to confiscate the grounds badge of Steven T. Davis, 34, of Salt Lake City, but he said the badge fell off when he was in the bunker.

"I apologize," Davis said as he was taken away, likely to the Richmond County jail to face a disorderly conduct charge, according to the newspaper. "I'm stupid. I hope Phil wins. That was dumb. Why did I do that?"

Seems to me the explanation is pretty simple. He's from Salt Lake and he was just really happy to get a drink.

Our dwindling press core summoned their finest insights and bold reactions to Sunday's Masters play. So sit back, prepare to click (remember, right to open in a new tab!) and enjoy a strong media performance. Of course it didn't hurt that there were great stories to tell.

We have all week for the traditional golf course and overall tournament post op, but if you followed the live blog you know we'll be talking about CBS, the extraordinary Masters.com, the golf course setup twist (soft greens save the day!?), the architectural issues remaining (the list is getting shorter!) and the cruelty of ending the Masters in a sudden death playoff.

When it comes to sudden changes, head-spinning and gut-wrenching ones, there is once again no place like Augusta National on a Sunday. The first three-man sudden-death playoff in 22 years at the Masters followed a daylong rush of adrenaline-charged roars that cascaded like Niagara Falls across the greensward.

Dreams can come true and they did yesterday at Augusta National: for the Masters, for those seeking an ultimate expression of golf's greatest rivalry and, finally, for Angel Cabrera who took the prized Green Jacket to add to the US Open trophy he won two years ago.

Sappy, yes, but when otherworldly and inexplicable things happen, rational and linear-thinking folks tend to scratch their heads and question the deities about how good fortune sometimes leads to fame.

All eyes had been on the two top names in golf and a man bidding to become the oldest winner of a major title, but Ángel Cabrera emerged from one of the most thrilling climaxes in the history of Augusta to become the Masters champion last night.

AngelSince there weren't too many stories on the champ, let's thank reader Tim for saving us the time looking for Alan Shipnuck and Luis Fernando Llosa'soutstanding 2007 SI profile of Cabrera.

At the protracted end of the most extra­ordinary Masters since Tiger Woods gate-crashed Augusta 12 years ago, and very nearly echoing Jack Nicklaus's win aged 46 here in 1986, Kenny Perry dragged his stiff old bones around the famous course in pursuit of a victory to defy the odds, the years, the lengthening shadows and all reasonable aesthetics.

It wasn't just the Masters on the line this week for Perry. It was validation for a long and productive career, the realization of a dream. Because the American dream is Kenny Perry. Small-town kid makes good, rags to riches, Horatio Alger — all in one. It's the dream that promises anything is possible if you work hard, try hard, and are tough enough. Or as late NCAA basketball coach Jim Valvano commanded, "Don't give up, don't ever give up."

A golfer doesn't scuffle when he's young just to make the tour, struggle to hold his place throughout the middle of his career and then, at an age when most pros begin mapping out plans for the senior circuit, suddenly discover there's magic in those thick, calloused hands. Perry did.

A golfer doesn't scuffle when he's young just to make the tour, struggle to hold his place throughout the middle of his career and then, at an age when most pros begin mapping out plans for the senior circuit, suddenly discover there's magic in those thick, calloused hands. Perry did.

Perry then stopped himself, realizing there are worse things than losing a golf tournament. His mom, Mildred, has cancer. His dad, Ken, is 85 years old, Kenny's biggest fan and supporter, and trying to look after his wife.

His kids, Lesslye, 24, Justin, 23 and Lindsey, 20, were all here, devastated, speechless."I got a lot of people hurting right now," Perry said.

He came out of the scorer’s shed with a determined look on his face, nodding yes when someone asked if he was ready to go. While Perry and Cabrera signed their cards, he and his caddie headed to the 18th tee for the first playoff hole.

Cabrera’s tee shot sailed into the trees on the right side, landing squarely behind a tree. Perry and Campbell’s drives, meanwhile, sat in the middle of the fairway.

“I was pretty excited to hit the fairway,” Campbell said. “I haven’t hit the fairway there all week, I think.”

Tiger And PhilA vast and entertaining spectrum of takes on Phil and Tiger, Tiger and Phil.

The record will reflect that Angel Cabrera won this Masters and the coveted green jacket that goes along with it. But anyone watching will tell you that Tiger and Phil stole the show.

The fans who streamed out of Augusta National by the hundreds even as the leaders played the back nine certainly thought so. They could have stuck around for what eventually became the first three-way playoff in 22 years, but there didn’t seem much point after the thrills Woods and Mickelson provided.

The early evening and the Masters championship belongs to Cabrera -- no small thing -- but the day, the 75-deep galleries, the loudest roars belonged to Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. And for a moment there, when the two of them were just a single stroke out of the lead heading into the 17th hole, this 2009 Masters was almost theirs, too.

"I would say it was the most fun I've ever had on a golf course caddying," said Jim Mackay, who has carried Mickelson's bag for years.

"A couple of shots could have changed the whole world," said Steve Loy, Mickelson's agent.

Cabrera, who won a U.S. Open in 2007 at Oakmont, gets the big paycheck and the sterling replica Masters trophy. But Woods and Mickelson are the two guys who gave this tournament and this Sunday an adrenaline rush. My ears still hurt.

You would have thought it was 1997, to judge by the scene as players, caddies, coaches and hangers-on arrived for the final round. Kultida Woods, dressed entirely in red, including a visor the size of a lampshade, strode up in the middle of a red-shirted, Nike-swooshed Tiger posse.

Phil spends hours signing autographs, Tiger avoids as many as he can. Phil talks to everyone and then retreats to his den to watch his bank of TVs and bet on several sports at the same time while Tiger says he loves scuba diving "because no one tries to talk to me down there". Different? If they were any more different these blokes would be playing tours on separate planets.

Augusta seems to feed Mickelson’s soul the way it always has with Ben Crenshaw. There’s a spiritual component, a deep-down-in-his-heart reverence for the course that Bobby Jones and Alister Mackenzie built. For the clubhouse. For the first major of the year.

“He comes here and it’s almost like a religious experience," she said. “He’ll go putt alone. Even in the dark sometimes."

No one had the clout to simply walk up and get a good look at the action from up close. Not even Tida Woods, Tiger's mother, who was walking with Nike's Phil Knight, could get close.As she crossed a fairway, a fan carrying two empty beer cups said to his friends, "Hey, there's Tiger's mom! She's like Mary Magdalene or something."

One of these days, Woods and Mickelson are going to need to recognize that, like Palmer and Nicklaus, they are forever joined, even if Tiger will have the grander career. They are both very, very good, and they gave us a fantastic show. It would have been nice to witness them acknowledge it, to each other. No, more than nice. Historic. Competition is all well and good, but sportsmanship lasts longer.

It's so much better when they can't stand each other. We wouldn't have it any other way.

Then again, wouldn't it be fun if they designed a course some day like The King and The Bear? That'd probably get held up in the negotiations. Loy: Phil wants to land his plane first. Steiny: Nope, Tiger always lands first, sorry.

Before the choke part, the wonder of this Masters was pretty much what Bobby Jones had in mind. This was the Augusta National we love. We've had enough of those forced marches over broken glass, everyone bleeding. Boring bogeys are for the sadists who run the U.S. Open. At the Masters, the idea is that great shots can transform a golf tournament into a thrill ride. And even better, there comes the time, with immortality there for the taking, when a man's right hand suddenly gets a mind of its own. Poor Kenny Perry testifies to that.

Billy Payne’s greatest achievement previously was bringing the Olympic Games to Atlanta. It may now well be bringing the Masters back in all its glory. With help from Mother Nature. And from Tiger, Phil, Kenny Perry, Chad Campbell and Cabrera.

Augusta National prides itself on giving its "patrons" the best possible experience, but if you watched this heavyweight battle at home, you had the best seat in any house. And yet, just the sonic-boom sound of those roars when Mickelson and Woods began making birdies in bunches had to be worth the price of admission for anyone in those teeming crowds struggling to see a putt here, a drive there.

It was a great Masters, but you have to give a big nod to Fred Ridley, the former USGA president and Augusta National member who sets up the course. A course like Augusta National is an artwork, and if you're just a little heavy with blue — the wrong tee positions, the wrong hole locations, the wrong Thursday-Friday pairings — the whole thing can sink. They got everything right this year, and the weather helped, but it was not anything like the greatest Masters. To rise to that level you have to have players doing triumphant things down the stretch, not missing fairways and greens and flubbing chips.

That last part Michael is referring to would be Hootie and Tom Fazio's gift to the game, by no means Ridley and his team's fault. They merely tailored the setup to the pallet and did it beautifully.

Da MedjaDick Friedmanthought CBS had a great day and while I thought the presentation by the camera and sound teams was in fine form (love those owl shots!) and Nick Faldo really shined with top notch insights, other announcers talked over essential conversations. The incredible Masters.com video streams are easily the golf viewing highlight of the year now and totally outshined the network coverage by exposing just how many shots were on tape. Amen Corner Live'sIan Eagle and Matt Gogel had a great week and were silent at just the right times.

And finally, there's only one place to go for images. The Augusta Chronicle'sAngel Cabreragallery, their Kenny Perryimages, their Tiger-Philshots, their round four collection and their photos from the playoff.

Thanks to everyone who chimed in for the Live Blogs. We had our most spirited group yet on Sunday and I learned a lot.

Following Sergio Garcia's Masters final round 74, a Golf Channel reporter or producer stuck a microphone in front of the 29-year-old reigning Players PLAYERS champion, who blasted Augusta National and the Masters.

"I don't like it to tell you the truth. I don't think it's fair. It's too tricky. It's too much of a guessing game."

And...

"I don't care, they can do whatever they want. I just come here and play and then go home.

Kraig Kann moderated an ensuing discussion session that epitomized the stellar--dare I say--breakout week for analysts Brandel Chamblee, Frank Nobilo and Dottie Pepper. (Ben Crenshaw was great in his cameo's, John Feinstein bordered on insufferable and Jim Gray indecipherable. Lerner and Sands were in top form as they always are at the majors, while Rosaforte, Hawkins, Micelli and Hoggard covered a nice variety of angles.)

On the disastrous Sergio moment, Nobilo equated it with Bobby Jones' temper tantrum during his first round at the Old Course and that over time, Sergio may learn to love the place.

Brandel countered quickly that Bobby Jones was 21, Sergio's 29, and "by now he should have matured." Chamblee observed that the "chip on Sergio's shoulder" combined with the New York galleries that taunted him last time will "come to haunt him at Bethpage."

Dottie chimed in with a shrewd observation about Sergio needing to make an effort to visit Augusta at a non-tournament time to better acquaint himself with the course and club.

Back at the studio, Vince Cellini piled on, noting Sergio's "darkness" and "petulance after these major performances."

Kelly Tilghman reminded us of the 2004 Masters 66 spat and the 2007 Open pouting and suggested that "obviously he is struggling with some demons."

To cap it all off, Alex Micelli was brought in and asked about Sergio: "I have two teenage daughters at home and they would deal with this a lot better than the way the petulant, childish Sergio Garcia does."

This isn't your father's Golf Channel!

Just a great week for Golf Channel, headquartered at nearby Augusta CC. Chamblee was particularly strong in dissecting what's wrong with the golf course and stuck to his bold opinions (by TGC and ANGC standards) that the rough and new trees need to go while the ridiculous depth of the bunkers is diminishing some of the risk-reward temptation essential to holes like 1, 5 and 8.

But the entire crew shined and kudos to Golf Channel for spending the money to give hardcore golfers the Masters coverage they deserve.

Steve Ellingtalks toBones Mackay and Rocco Mediate about Sunday's hole location sheet and they say all of the accessible holes locations, plus a new one on 6 and a surprise on 17 should set up a scoring opportunity.

I sit down for an exciting Saturday night of reading and my beloved scribblers turn out to be all cranky. They get a Tiger-Phil pairing and instead of celebrating, it seems most of them think this thing is over.

It's as if they think it's over because--smooching up stories notwithstanding--they still don't think the course is susceptible to the back nine charge. I can't imagine why anyone would think that. Just because 10-11-12 are the three toughest holes scoring-average wise, the 15th yielded one eagle Sunday and a heroic Tiger chip-out from the Christmas trees, and then there's that super wide 17th!

Anyway, I, being more positive, am holding out hope for a thrilling finish Sunday. We certainly have more people in contention.

Nancy Armourfiles notes on Steve Stricker, unhappy Ian Poulter after a 68, Chad Campbell's club selection decision on 16 and great news on the ESPN ratings front (because I was worried they might not survive without a good number this week).

They might be a lowly triumvirate in terms of profile outside of their sport, but Angel Cabrera, Kenny Perry and Chad Campbell have lit up this golfing heaven this week. It is certainly hard to envisage anyone else donning green in the Butler Cabin this evening.

Angel Cabrera goes by the nickname 'El Pato’, the duck, but there was nothing remotely waddling about the Argentinian’s third-round performance at Augusta on Saturday as he surged into a share of the lead in the US Masters on 11 under par, alongside American Kenny Perry.

This was supposed to be the year the Masters went hip, celebrated youth and turned over the keys to Augusta National Golf Club to the plugged-in generation. But Saturday, on a sunny, breezy day, the older fellows decided to show the teenagers and 20-somethings just how the game was played.

Given the way the course has played and how Cabrera and Perry have handled themselves through 54 holes, it is barely conceivable that they could both be overtaken by Woods or Mickelson and, beyond Campbell and Furyk, it is difficult to see a winner other than the two leaders.

The plan was to reproduce the loud and lustrous back nine birdies, eagles and roars that once captivated spectators around the world. The plan was to forget what has recently been.

And this Masters, the 73rd, has, broadly speaking, achieved all of the above. So far at least. But what wasn't anticipated was a dollop of irony. While the men atop the leaderboard after 54 holes are all fine golfers, none is the most charismatic character amongst the game's elite. For "interesting" read "introverted".

You know I'm with Rosaforte and Micelli who both said on their Golf Channel spots that this whole Stevie-I-hate-the-prick thing is overblown and has been put behind by all involved. Of course, of course, BUT...just in case you want to relive the drama...

A prayer. That’s about what Woods’ chances appear to be after another ho-hum, lackluster lap around The National on Saturday, something that has become more the norm than the exception. Make no mistake, Woods fought to the very end, making three birdies in his final six holes to post a respectable number (2-under 70). But he’s a long, long way from home.

The hope at the start of the week was for a retro Masters with second nine Sunday roars. Pat Summerall’s doing voiceovers, the piano music’s still soothing, the course still green but the giant swings in momentum are missing.

Sunday will mark the 22nd time the two have been paired together in a Tour event and the first time at a major since the 2001 Masters. And, for the record, Woods has posted a better round than Mickelson 15 out of those 22 head-to-heads, including that 2001 run at Augusta National.

Augusta National is simply too big a test for a golfer playing only his fourth competitive tournament since having a knee rebuilt. There is a reason they don’t play major championships at Bay Hill, scene of Woods’ first tour victory into his comeback a fortnight ago.

Off the tee Woods was all over the place here. A wayward drive on the first led to a double bogey start. Another at the second had him down on his knee. No blame attaches to his iron into the short par 6. The irons were his saviour on Saturday, apart from this one, which was too good, splicing the flag stick like an arrow issued by Robin Hood.

Michael Bamberger details the infirmary situation at theMickelson household (ouch Amanda, poor thing!) that probably didn't help Phil's play in Houston, and says he believes Phil about his chances for a dramatic comeback Sunday.

It'd be a fantasy, of the Ben-Crenshaw-at-Brookline variety, to think that the winner could come out of the seventh-to-last group. But what makes it semi-feasible is that Augusta National has not been this conducive to scoring in years. There seems to be more grass, which is allowing for more aggressive chip shots. Because of the storm that passed through Augusta as Friday turned into Saturday, the greens were soft and receptive.

The Irish Times' Paul Gallagherreports on the Irish trio's tough day Saturday including...

Rory Ruling, Not Quite RIP

Interesting new details emerged on Friday's Rory ruling, including an explanation for the excruciating length of time between incident and resolution. Part of it is Rory's fault. Sounds like Fred Ridley is too patient and forgiving.

His phone rang at 6:30 p.m. EDT, and Fred Ridley, chair of the competition committees at Augusta National asked what he’d done on 18.

“I said, ‘I played my bunker shot, didn’t get it out of the bunker. Played my next shot over the green and three-putted for a seven,’ ” McIlroy said.

Ridley told McIlroy they were looking at his bunker shots, and asked if he wanted to return to the club to review the tape. McIlroy said no thanks, confident he hadn’t done anything wrong.

Almost two hours later, Ridley called back and told McIlroy it was in his best interest to look at the tape. At issue was whether McIlroy kicked the sand or swiped it; it looked like a kick because some sand flew up.

Mark Reasontalks to a few folks who sayMcIlroy got away with a violation even if the rule in question is peculiar and also raises questions about the club's sense of urgency.

Peter McEvoy, the captain of the winning Walker Cup teams in 1999 and 2001, said: “Was Rory McIlroy guilty? The spirit of the rules say no, the letter of the law says yes. I would have done the same as the Augusta Committee. But I am very surprised that they did find no violation of the rules. I thought they would disqualify him.”

The Masters hierarchy had been informed of the incident, but an hour after they knew about it a rules official had still not been summoned. The rules officials only found out when a member of the press called one of them. Why hadn’t they been called earlier?

Only the BBC showed replays and they were just about inconclusive enough to take McIlroy's word for it. Whether sand can fly into the air, as it did, while being smoothed is a moot point. The rule-makers need to apply hasty clarification. It would be a shame if McIlroy's image as the most refreshing golfer to hit the game in many a year was in any way compromised.

Those who do take an interest in architecture and who have long considered Augusta to be the most strategically brilliant layout in the world (outside of St Andrews, at least) know that the responsibility for "crime" lies largely with Johnson, who sanctioned a series of changes to the course around the start of the decade that undermined its elemental genius.

Holes were lengthened, trees planted, rough grown. Thinking golf was replaced by mindless golf. Where once players had multiple options, they now had one: middle of fairway, middle of green, hope for a single putt and for God's sake don't take any risks. Therein lay the road to public indifference, and the Masters was halfway there.

Fortunately, Payne appears to have recognised the problem and he is nimble enough to do something about it.

I like Cabrera to win. I like Stevie to do something stupid in the pairing with Phil and I know CBS will show Todd Hamilton about the same amount tomorrow that they did today (twice). Your thoughts so far?

An Augusta National club official said Saturday morning that several rules officials from various worldwide tours and organizations, including the PGA Tour, were involved in the deliberations and that it was "a unanimous decision." McIlroy told the committee officials that he habitually rakes over his bunker footprints before exiting a trap and that while he wasn't happy, he was merely smoothing out the sand.

Chad Campbell may be leading, but Golf Channel's Alex Micelli appropriately likened a wait on Rory McIlroy's fate to the "hanging chad" debacle that defined the 2000 Presidential election.

It seems the Masters rules committee took a whopping four hours plus to decide whether McIlroy had violated the rules after swiping the sand on No. 18. Those of you following along on the live blog (that we'll be doing again Saturday and Sunday) know that our friends watching on BBC reported that the network was scrutinizing the incident, while we ESPN viewers taking the CBS feed got no word whatsoever of Rory's terrible finish, much less a possible rules issue. That merely culminated a day of dismal coverage exposed (ironically) by the excellent online feeds that revealed just how much golf television viewers were either missing, or seeing five minutes after happening.

After a laughably long delay, club employees finally distributed a pairing sheet for Saturday's third round and the 19-year-old's name was on the list. A moment later, an Augusta employee began hurriedly collecting the tee sheets from media members, claiming they were issued prematurely.

The club then announced that McIlroy was still in the field and that a statement would be forthcoming.

Amazingly, while awaiting further clarification from club officials, a tornado warning was posted at the club.

Approximately 4½ hours after he had completed his round, McIlroy returned to the club and watched a videotape of the incident. Fred Ridley, chairman of the Masters competition committee, said in a club statement that the rules allow for a player to smooth out his footprints in the bunker after making a stroke "provided that, with regard to his next stroke, nothing is done to improve the positon or lie of his ball, the area of his intended swing, his line of play or a reasonable extension of his line beyond the hole or the area in which he is to drop or place the ball."

Elling goes on to detail how the Ridley statement created more questions than answers and why it took so long to handle the situation. This surely will recall memories of Ridley's reign as USGA President. He was at the helm for the Shinnecock Hills debacle.

Meanwhile the Internet Writer Of The Year filed a late piece and concludes appropriately that Rory was a "very lucky young man" Friday. Translation as I read it: how on earth did the committee conclude there was no violation?

The Belfast Telegraph's Ed Curranlooked at the 19-year-old's weird day, with a headline calling it Rory's "fit of Masters petulance."

As for television, the day was summed up by ESPN/CBS putting so little focus on Anthony Kim's epic, unbelievable, surreal, unfathomable round of 11 birdies. They barely covered his birdie putt on 18, and while Jim Nantz and Nick Faldo praised the accomplishment, it should have been treated with much more coverage. We don't need another Par-3 contest clip package or a HarryConnick Jr. voice over when history is happening before our very eyes!

On the day Gary Player missed his final Masters cut and said goodbye to Augusta from the bottom of the board and 11-birdie Anthony Kim and his young friends frolicked round Augusta National like spring lambs, Tiger Woods suffered a rare bout of mid-career blues.

The wind came up at Augusta National Golf Club on Friday and the second-round scores went up with it. But this was no struggle against the elements. The fortunes of some golfers were blown off course, but for many others the prospects seemed to steady, bringing an elite order to the field at the halfway mark.

I'm not sure what is more amazing, that Anthony Kim made 11 birdies at Augusta National in one round, or that he revealed after the round that he read a newspaper. He told the press that as many of us were, he was struck by the horribly tragic death of Nick Adenhart. Alan Bastableblogs about Kim's epic round and Kim's heartfelt press conference revelation.

Anyone who was following McIlroy and Kim yesterday had an experience to treasure. Talk about a wild rollercoaster ride. There was an eagle from McIlroy at the 13th that was almost contemptuous in its brilliance. There were all those birdies from Kim, plus a double-bogey calamity of his own at the 10th. What price these two having plenty of dingdong battles in the future? For now the momentum is with Kim, who, after a slow start to the season, finds himself just five off the lead.

One of Gary's six children, and the chief executive of Black Knight International, Marc was planning a celebratory braii — a South African barbecue — for 200 guests at a large rental house just off the golf course Friday night.

"We have all the tables set up outside," Marc said. "Tell me it's not going to rain, even if it is. You can lie."

Gary Player, 73, indulges in "the odd scotch," Marc said, but he was unlikely to eat much bull tongue or any other animal protein. He still subsists on walnuts and almonds, fruits and vegetables.

An AP story on Fuzzy's goodbye and the 30 seconds that obscured 30 years of good will.

The Daily Mail's Alan FraservisitsJohn Daly at this merchandise table and I'm not sure what is worse, the comments or the photos of John sitting there selling his stuff.

How did Tiger finish up in the first round?' Daly asked. 'I was watching but I didn't catch the finish.'

Daly was standing in front of his bus and behind a line of Formica-topped cafeteria tables laden with assorted T-shirts, flags, hats and driver covers from his Lion merchandising range. Daly himself was manning the stall, taking the dollar bills and counting out the change Surely, this was an undignified, nay humiliating, position for an Open and US PGA Champion to find himself in. Surely, if he could not play at Augusta he should have stayed away and not further harmed his reputation.

'I don't care what people think and say,' Daly said. 'One thing for sure, the 25,000 people going through here never question my dignity. It is all about the fans.'

Anne Szekerreports that Daly performed with Hootie and the Blowfish Thursday night. Worse, there's video. And he's performing Knockin' On Heaven's Door. Wouldn't Dylan be proud?

More pleasant video is Marty Hackel's early morning piece on where the early spectators head for some good viewing.

Scott Michaux catches up with Dr. Ed Bailey, who has been to every Masters!

And finally, Alan Bastablepasses alongKelly Tilghman's report (I thought she was kidding) that the PGA Tour is talking to Condoleeza Rice about a job. And David Cannon caught the moment Tim Finchem and Condy were chatting under the Big Oak.

The Amen CornerLivecoverage is stellar again, especially with the video working so well this year. They just reported that there have been 10 pars, 12 bogies and 7 others, for a scoring average of 3.93 so far. And half the field has not even been through yet.

If you've been following the Masters, you know the debate: Did club officials go too far in adding trees, a second cut of rough and 400-plus yards? Or is the weather to blame for the lack of birdies and eagles over the last two weekends?

Payne held firm Tuesday that weather was to blame and Thursday's low scores in flawless conditions made him look good.

As for Augusta, remember the place that for two barren years has been too long, too cold and too quiet? Thanks to mother nature and a paternal helping hand from the Masters custodians, it became too short, too soft and very loud.

Last year there were only 23 rounds under 70 in the entire tournament. Here, with no wind, generous pin positions and heavily watered greens, there were 19 on the first day alone.

A few years ago running back Reggie Bush and USC came to South Bend to face a Notre Dame defense terrible against the run. So they grew out the field to US Open rough length and slowed Bush down a bit.

And when a baseball team fields slow and shakey infielders, their grounds crews have been known to grow out the grass and water it down to slow down ground balls.

I would contend that Thursday's low scores--aided by softer greens--confirmed more than the bad weather days just how much the changes at Augusta National have reduced player options and made the course susceptible to even the slightest weather hiccup.

Might it be better to have firmer greens, but allow the players to take advantage of the many angles now covered in rough and trees?

Yes, it was fun to watch the guys play some aggressive shots Thursday. But it seems a bit simplistic to suggest that that weather is the sole reason for high or low scores.